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The U.S. Department of Commerce today imposed new fees on solar panels and cells imported from China. The countervailing duties are meant to counteract the subsidies the department believes the Chinese government is giving its solar manufacturers.

The duties will range from 2.9 to 4.73 percent of imported products’ cost, an amount that is not expected to dramatically impact solar trade. But the duties could rise as the department’s investigation continues.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., supports the decision and in a statement said he predicts the tariff margins will 鈥渟ignificantly swell鈥� as the Obama administration’s investigation continues.

鈥淩ight now U.S. manufacturers are being hammered by Chinese imports that appear to be subsidized by the government and dumped on the U.S. market,鈥� Wyden said in the statement. 鈥淔or domestic producers to compete, they need only a level playing field free from the unfair trade practices that are routinely employed by China.鈥�

The duties will apply retroactively to all imports of cells and modules from China brought into the U.S. since December, 2011, although the duties could change when the agency issues its final decision.

In the meantime, importers will have to post bonds or cash deposits toward anti-subsidy margins of 2.9 percent for cells and panels made by Chinese manufacturer Suntech, and 4.73 percent for those made by Trina Solar. Importers of all other Chinese solar products will have to meet a margin of 3.6 percent.

In addition to the subsidy investigation, the Commerce Department is looking into accusations that Chinese companies are 鈥渄umping鈥� panels in the U.S., or selling the products at less than fair value. The department’s findings are expected May 16. The dumping investigation was prompted by the SolarWorld-led , which is seeking anti-dumping tariffs of more than 100 percent on Chinese-made panels.